Comment by Tallgirl on March 10, 2013 at 1:23pm

1. Let the counselor, administrators, teachers, P.E. teacher and lunch ladies in on your concerns so they can be aware of bullies and maybe have alopecia included in health lessons.
2. Get a copy of the school's bully policy and read it so you know what steps to take.
3. Find an alopecia support group near you and attend over the summer. Some may agree to be guest speakers at your school if needed.
4. Spend the summer deciding on how YOU think you will look best, and do/buy whatever you need a few weeks before school starts to get comfortable and natural in it. (Clothes? Hat? Wig? Make-up? Jewelry? Shave?). Always have back-ups on hand.
5. Make one or two good friends in each class, club, transition time and commute to sit or walk with you and have your back, provides laughs, be honest, etc.
6. Make the hang-out be YOUR house, so you can control a positive guest list for sleep-overs, parties and homework study groups. Parents can order the pizza and get the cookie-baking ingredients.

Collect ideas other than mine to add to your strategy file! Good luck, and have some fun! I predict some life-long friends will come from these two years. I am still on Facebook with about 10 friends from junior high...and I am 60!

Comment by Tallgirl on March 10, 2013 at 1:25pm

P.S. I wore granny caps and scarves to sleep-overs, but doo-rags, beanies or other modern choices may suit you more if you need a cover.

Comment by Jessica Hoschouer on March 10, 2013 at 3:41pm

Thank you for the advise I am sure that it will help i really appreciate it!!!

Comment by Al on March 11, 2013 at 2:07pm

Honestly, I didn't deal with wearing a wig in high school until I was a senior. I was mocked by a girl I never talked toat school and at work. She ended up being a cosmetologist... not sure how that works. I went to the school councelor about her and all she did was brag about how great of a student she was.... then years later found out the xanga website that was posted on my highschools group that was made about me with pictures was made by my best friend at the time...they were of myself with comments below each picture about how fake it looked. So then Ilost trust in people and faith in society. I am now 26 and am not finding it easy still to deal with peoples cruel bullying ways. I started wearing a wig a year ago and front an attitude that I love wearing my different styles and colors. You know because people without wigs can't!! Also try to find a way of wearing makeup like black eyeliner and brow powder with a good sealer. It masks the "cancer patient" look we apparently habe I have heard by many. I hear that we will be strong because of the way we will grow thick skin ... all Ihave learned is that you have to take it one day at a time.

Comment by Alliegator on March 11, 2013 at 3:46pm

Remember that you are beautiful! Tallgirl gave great tips. Find what will make you feel best and comfortable so you are ready for school to start. I have found that it helped me to talk about it. I can tell you that if you don't make a big deal about it, than others won't either. For example, last Friday I went to a luncheon with some coworkers who had never seen me bald. I walked into the lunch like there wasn't anything different about me. No one said anything or asked me about it. Just remember that most people are too concerned with themselves. We are here for you! You will do just fine. Find a teacher who you can talk to about it, who will be your ally through the year. It really helps to have an ally. Keep coming back here.

Comment by Jen Barry on March 21, 2013 at 9:16pm

Hey Jess...I've read some of your other posts and you seem to deal with school pretty good...and it sounds like the kids at your school deal with it pretty good too. Having said this...I'll share how I dealt with being a teenager, high school and all that jazz. My AA started in grade 6...so where you are now. Yes, it was difficult...but after reading many many posts on this site from other members...I feel I was lucky. Looking back (I'm 44 now) I didn't revolve my life around the fact that I was loosing my hair and wore a hair piece. I told my group of friends and that was it...because frankly it was nobody elses business. It was more of "just so you know" conversation...I never talked about it much again with them because it was a non issue. I would say that I was always part of the...dare I say it...popular group and if people teased me...they must have done it behind my back because I don't recall hearing any teasing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it will be an issue for others if you make it an issue for yourself. I know it's easier said than done...but really...it's hard for kids (or anybody) to tease somebody that is smiling, nice to people and feeling good about themselves.

Comment by Jessica Hoschouer on March 21, 2013 at 9:43pm

Thanks Jen but I don't think not telling very many people will help... At the end of the school year last year I shaved my head so all of the kids that went to the same school as me will know.

Comment by Jessica Hoschouer on September 7, 2013 at 1:05pm

School has started and I love it already I have met a guy who also has Alopecia but only has like one tiny spot.

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